New BBC Four Dramas Look At British TV Legends

BBC Four is to explore the lives of some of Britain’s best loved entertainers in a new 4-part series of dramas.

Waking The Dead’s Trevor Eve will star as Opportunity Knocks host Hughie Green in Hughie Green, Most Sincerely. Described as a parable about the destructive power of success and celebrity the piece also promises to be also an exploration of what family and fatherhood meant to this iconic character.

The relationship between the stars of Steptoe And Son � Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell � is explored in The Curse Of Steptoe which stars Phil Davis (Five Days) as Wilfrid Brambell and Jason Isaacs (The State Within) as Harry H Corbett.

Writen by Brian Fillis (Fear Of Fanny) the script is based on interviews with colleagues, friends and family of Harry and Wilfrid, and Steptoe writers, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Celebrated comedian Frankie Howerd’s inner demons are to be explored as seen through the eyes of his long-term partner Dennis Heymer. Despite his status as an icon of British comedy Howerd was a man riddled with professional doubts, conflicted by his homosexuality and wracked with depression.

The writer Peter Harness has constructed this as yet un-cast story from intimate interviews with Heyme.

Stott is joined as Maxine Peake for this look at the final year of Hancock’s life and the love affair with his best friend’s wife, his battle with drink and his final fateful series in Australia.

George Entwistle, acting Controller, BBC Four, says: “The season celebrates some of the most enduring icons from the history of British television. The dramas show a different side to the various personalities � sometimes funny, sometimes sad � always surprising and fascinating.”